English FA CUP
2019-03-16 - Swansea City vs Manchester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English FA Cup Quarter Final
Saturday 16th March 2019 - Kick Off 5:20pm
This game is live on TV
Swansea City
A 3-0 defeat at West Brom just days after losing at Norwich City might have ended any lingering hopes Swansea City have had of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking following relegation last May. The fans will get the chance to see what they are missing when Swansea City meet a Premier League opponent for the first time in the FA Cup, but the players should be highly motivated too with a spot in the Semi Final of the Cup up for grabs.
Wins over Aston Villa and Brentford from the Championship and Gillingham from League One have helped Swansea City reach consecutive FA Cup Quarter Finals. Twelve months ago they were brushed aside by Tottenham Hotspur, but Swansea City get another chance to reach the Semi Final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1964.
Swansea City have been more miss than hit in the last few weeks and 4 losses from their last 6 games in all competitions underlines the point. Those defeats have come away from the Liberty Stadium though and Swansea City are unbeaten in 7 here in all competitions and have won 5 of their last 6 in front of their own fans including the last 3 in a row.
Manchester City
The latest club to understand the power that Manchester City have were Schalke who were crushed 7-0 in the Champions League Last 16 Second Leg during the week. Now the focus for Pep Guardiola's men turns to the FA Cup as they look to secure a spot in the Semi Final for the second time in his three years in charge before the squad splits to join their international teams for duty in the next two weeks.
On the same weekend Manchester City could see their lead at the top of the Premier League lost to Liverpool, but a game in hand would mean their destiny is still in their own control. The Champions League Quarter Final draw could have produced an exciting opponent for Manchester City by the time this game kicks off, but the manager has made it clear to the players to focus game by game and see where it takes them. The side have beaten Rotherham United, Burnley and Newport County on their way through to the FA Cup Quarter Final.
Manchester City won for the 4th game in a row when crushing Schalke during the week, but that was another fixture played at home and now they have to go on their travels where they have not been quite as dominant. They have won 4 in a row away from home in all competitions, but the last two wins at Schalke and Bournemouth have been very tough outings for Manchester City.
There should be some squad rotation, but I expect a strong Manchester City team to be picked knowing there is an international break coming up. You can still imagine the likes of John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus to perhaps get a chance to come into the starting eleven, but I expect some regulars to be asked to play too. Kevin De Bruyne is expected to return after the international break.
Head to Head
Manchester City crushed Swansea City 5-0 at home and 0-4 here in the Premier League last season.
Manchester City have won all 5 games played against Swansea City since Guardiola arrived as manager of the former and that includes 3 wins at the Liberty Stadium.
Prediction
As we go into the final two months of the season Manchester City remain on course to win an unprecedented Quadruple even if the manager is not allowing his players to think of history. The old cliche of taking things game by game is being applied by Manchester City, but so far it is working a treat and they are big favourites to reach the FA Cup Semi Final.
Even if Pep Guardiola decides to make a number of changes to his first team, Manchester City have a lot of good options to go with and that means they should not be weakened too much. Most of the play will be dominated by the visitors and the way this match goes will depend very much on how Swansea City approach it.
The home team could choose to sit in and make life difficult for Manchester City as Bournemouth did earlier this month, but it is not really the style of Graham Potter or the club. And that would worry me if I supported Swansea City.
While they have nothing to lose, playing an open style of football and looking to get on the front foot could leave Swansea City massively vulnerable to Manchester City here. There is pace in the final third that will make the home team dangerous and they do have a very strong recent record at the Liberty Stadium, but Swansea City have not really come up against too many teams like this Manchester City one and I do think they could be put to the sword.
My feeling is that Manchester City will be able to get going in the first half and then begin to pick off a Swansea City team chasing the game in the second half. This is a huge handicap for Manchester City to cover away from home, but they are playing with confidence and players can leave things on the line with a two week international break to come when they will get a chance to rest some tired limbs.
I do think the home team will have one or two moments of their own, but Manchester City are rolling along and they can win by a comfortable margin to reach yet another Semi Final under Pep Guardiola.
The Pick :
Swansea City 0-3 Manchester City
